Decision (EU) 2018/13 on the position to be adopted within the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Council on the participation of Serbia as an observer in the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights’ work

Further information:

On 7 March 2016 the European Commission proposed the adoption of a Council Decision on the Union's position in the EU-Republic of Serbia Stabilisation and Association Council pertaining to the participation of Serbia as an observer in the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights' work and its modalities.

The Council approved the proposal on 18 December 2017.

Background:

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights was set up by Council Regulation (EC) No 168/2007. According to Article 2 of the Regulation, the Agency's objective is to provide the relevant institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union and its Member States when implementing Union law with assistance and expertise relating to fundamental rights.

Pursuant to Article 28(1) of the Regulation, the Agency shall be open to the participation of candidate countries as observers. Article 28(2) of the Regulation provides that the participation and the respective modalities shall be determined by a decision of the relevant Association Council. The decision shall indicate in particular the nature, extent and manner of the country's participation in the Agency's work. Upon the decision of the Association Council, the Agency will be able to deal with fundamental rights issues in the candidate country in question, to the extent necessary for the gradual alignment of the country to Union law.

EUR-Lex: COM(2016)119: Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken in the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Council on the participation of Serbia as an observer in the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights' work http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2016:119:FIN

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